The majority of U.S. insurance company CEOs, 79 percent, are confident about the growth prospects of their organizations over the next 3 years, as they are looking to innovate processes and implement new technologies in response to the rapid disruption of the sector.

Eighty two percent of insurance CEOs that participated in the KPMG U.S. CEO Outlook 2017 study are looking to disrupt the sector rather than be disrupted by competitors, while 57 percent see technological disruption as an opportunity rather than a threat.

"Insurance CEOs are taking disruption head on by embracing new technologies and adopting new business and operational models," said Laura Hay, National Insurance Leader, KPMG LLP. "There is a great need to build capabilities that are scalable, agile and sustainable, while meeting customer expectations."

Scaling Up Business Operations and Driving Transformation

The majority of insurance CEOs, 83 percent, believe that there is a great need to scale up business operations and processes to drive growth. However, 59 percent are concerned that their companies do not have the sensory capabilities to innovate processes to respond to rapid disruption.

"The insurance industry is at a critical tipping point, and an enterprise-wide evolution is necessary to effectively compete in the digital age," said Matt McCorry, Insurance Advisory Leader, KPMG LLP. "Understanding how to leverage data into new insights and value, and implementing the right technologies to improve efficiencies and the customer experience, are crucial for future success."

Implementing New Technologies and Investment in Cybersecurity

In this year's study, insurance CEOs said the top technology-related challenges insurance companies will face in the next 3 years include optimizing the use of data analytics and predictive technologies, coupled with building data collection capabilities and reskilling the current workforce. The complexity of implementation is singled out as the top barrier in applying new technologies, while implementing disruptive technologies is a top strategic priority.

On cybersecurity, 69 percent of the CEOs believe that their companies are somewhat prepared for a cyber event, while the majority, 87 percent, see the investment in cybersecurity as an opportunity to find new revenue streams and innovate, rather than an overhead cost.

"As insurers embark on a digital journey, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly more important to secure ongoing operations," added McCorry. "Implementing disruptive technologies to minimize cybersecurity risk and foster innovation should be a top priority."

KPMG's 2017 annual insurance conference, held September 12-13 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, will address many of the concerns of CEOs and industry professionals that were highlighted in the CEO report, and provide insights and solutions on how to successfully navigate through turbulent times.

To access a live steaming of the conference's Sept. 12 morning session, 8:30 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. EDT, that includes presentations by KPMG'sLaura Hay and Matt McCorry, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/KPMGUS/.